A movie that is guaranteed to leave even the most jaded horror fans winded during its unrelentingly sadistic final act, Japanese cinema renegade Takashi Miike's Audition gets top-shelf treatment, thanks to the folks at Venture Video. Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, the image is clear and the transfer free of any notable debris. The colors are rich and vivid, and the blacks solid, with no signs of pixilation or edge enhancement. The Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, while lacking dynamics throughout most of the running time, completely unleashes a flood of disturbing sound effects upon viewers at the most unexpected and jarring moments -- with Miike's masterful use of audio becoming especially prominent and discomforting during the notorious climax. If the flood of disturbing imagery has viewers covering their eyes in disgust, there is virtually no escaping the horrific auditory effects without leaving the room (something that the majority of viewers will have absolutely no qualms about doing). In regard to extra features, a commentary track by Miike (which offers a spoken English interpretation of the director's Japanese comments) covers only the final 30 minutes of the film. What a 30 minutes it is though. It's obvious that, while Miike is a master of disturbingly unhinged imagery, he isn't without a sense of humor about his craft -- and it's clear that he is keenly aware of the effect that his use of violence will have on the audience. Though the final act is somewhat confusing in its narrative structure, Miike offers some clarity regarding what is real and what is fantasy as the film gradually descends into madness. An additional onscreen interview conducted in the historic Egyptian Theater finds a relaxed Miike detailing the origins of the story, how he became involved with the adaptation, the casting, the cinematography, and the manner in which he manipulated the emotions of viewers by pulling the rug out from under them when the film takes a sharp turn from romantic drama to unabashed terror. An excerpt from Visiting with Huell Howser: American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater offers an in-depth look at the theater's rich history, with trailers, a biography and filmography for Miike, and a photo gallery rounding out the appealing selection of extras.